GARDAI have recovered the handgun used in a gangland shooting which was dropped by the would-be assassin after he was pinned to a wall by a car.

Detectives probing the attempted murder of Robert Ryle (30) yesterday recovered the weapon which fired up to five shots into the victim as he got out of a car at a house at Foxdene Park in Clondalkin, Co Dublin, on Sunday night.

A lone gunman approached him at 8.40pm, firing several shots into his neck and chest from close range.

It is understood the driver of the car pinned the assassin against the wall in a desperate bid to save Mr Ryle's life.

The gunman managed to wriggle free and fled the scene on foot in the direction of the Fonthill Road. But he dropped his weapon, which was recovered nearby.

Mr Ryle, from Ballyfermot, was rushed to Tallaght Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery. He remains in a critical condition.

Superintendent Pat Clavin, from Lucan garda station, last night issued a plea for anyone with information to come forward. "We're particularly anxious to find out how the gunman got to the scene at Foxdene Park and how he escaped from the scene afterwards," he said.